A Final Policy Paper is due the last class session. The Final Policy Paper will contribute 25% to your final grade.

Focus of the Final Paper

Prepare a ten- to fifteen-page paper that includes at least five different scholarly references. Your final paper must identify a current public policy issue/controversy in the news today that would benefit from a policy change and include the following components:

1. Describe and analyze the scope of the public policy concern. Be sure to address the following in your analysis.
   • Who are the stakeholders and affected constituencies?
   • What political institutions are relevant to the policy discussion about this issue?
   • Is the public policy issue one that is faced by both the federal government and state governments?
   • How much does the public policy issue cost Americans? How much would it cost to address the issue? If the costs are unknown, why are they unknown?
2. Discuss at least three proposed policies to address this issue.
3. Recommend a solution to the policy concern from those proposed. Be sure to address the following in your recommendation:
   • Assess the administrative feasibility of the solution.
   • Assess the advantages and disadvantages of the solution.
   • Relate your recommendation back to the issues raised in the scope of the policy concern.

Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:

• Must be ten- to fifteen double-spaced pages in length and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide. Note that title/abstract pages, references, and any exhibits/appendices are not counted in the total page length.
• Must include a cover page that includes:
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Title of paper
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement.
• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
• Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph.
• Must use at least five scholarly sources, including a minimum of two from the Ashford Online Library.
• Must use APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide to document all sources.
• Must include, on the final page, a Reference Page that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.